Los Angeles Angels - TeamReport

Statistically, Tommy Hanson's career may be going in the wrong direction, but Hanson doesn't believe he needs to prove anything this year.

"I'm confident in my ability to go out and get people out," the Angels right-hander said. "The past is the past. I'm not looking at that. I'm looking forward. I'm on a new team, a really good team. I just want to go out and pitch well and help us win."

One of three new starters in the Angels rotation, Hanson is looking to bounce back from a couple of disappointing second halves in his last two seasons with the Atlanta Braves.

In 2011, Hanson started to feel some shoulder pain after the All-Star break, and he finished with a 8.10 second-half ERA. He had a 2.44 ERA before the break. He said he spent most of the following winter working on getting healthy instead of getting strong, so he ran out of gas in 2012. He had a 5.69 ERA after the break last year, up from 3.71 in the first half.

"I didn't feel I was strong enough and where I needed to be physically to go through the summer and to the end of the season," he said. "I was making good pitches but just making more mistakes than I normally would, and those mistakes were getting crushed."

The Angels, obviously still seeing the upside in a guy who was once one of baseball's top pitching prospects, sent Jordan Walden to the Braves to get Hanson in November.

Although it's too early to tell if the gamble will pay off, Hanson said he's feeling better than he did this time last year, physically and with a tweak he's made to his delivery.

--RHP Ernesto Frieri has been working on a cutter and a changeup this spring. Frieri relied almost exclusively on his fastball last season. Frieri is expecting to begin the season as the closer while RHP Ryan Madson finishes his rehab from Tommy John surgery.

--OF Vernon Wells said he plans to retire when his current contract is over following the 2014 season. The 34-year-old veteran is entering the sixth year of a seven-year, $126 million deal, but he is unlikely to be an everyday player this year.

--OF Peter Bourjos drew three walks in his first two spring training games after drawing just one every 20 plate appearances throughout his major league career. Last season, Bourjos walked 15 times in 195 plate appearances.

--SS Erick Aybar got extra playing time early in the spring because he is heading to the World Baseball Classic to play for the Dominican Republic. The Dominican squad includes four veteran shortstops: Aybar, Jose Reyes, Hanley Ramirez and Miguel Tejada.

--RHP Chad Cordero, who is trying to make a comeback after not pitching in the majors since 2010, was impressive in the early going in minor league camp. He gave up one run in one inning in his first appearance in a big-league exhibition game this spring.

--3B Kaleb Cowart, the top prospect in the Angels' system, gave his teammates a presentation on hunting and gun safety. Young players get "assignments" in the Angels' spring camp.

BY THE NUMBERS: $441,529 -- Amount of money Mike Trout earned, including his minor league salary, pro-rated major league salary and an award bonus, during his phenomenal rookie season.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "A split-squad the first day is absurd. That's the best word I can say." -- Manager Mike Scioscia, on a scheduling quirk that resulted in his team opening the Cactus League schedule with two games on the same day. There are 15 teams in the Cactus League, so one of them has to have a split squad daily in order to have a full schedule.

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MLB Team Report - Los Angeles Angels - ROSTER REPORT

PROJECTED ROTATION:

1. RHP Jered Weaver

2. LHP C.J. Wilson

3. LHP Jason Vargas

4. RHP Tommy Hanson

5. RHP Joe Blanton

This is not a sexy rotation, but it's solid at the top, with Jered Weaver as good as any pitcher in baseball. C.J. Wilson had an All-Star first half in 2012 and then slumped in the second, in which he was pitching with bone chips in his elbow.

The bone chips have been cleaned up, so the Angels are hoping to get a full season of good work out of him.

Of the back three, Jason Vargas and Joe Blanton are innings eaters. The one who has a real chance to make a difference is Hanson, who was once one of the top prospects in baseball, but injuries have caused him to decline. If he's healthy and returns to form, the Angels could have a strong rotation. Garrett Richards and Jerome Williams are at the top of the list if the Angels need a spot starter.